He said he didn’t have a count on the number of physicians sickened. The remaining sidelined workers could be anyone “throughout the system,” from front line medical staff to office personnel and others.

The sick count at Beaumont comes the same day that Henry Ford Health System said more than 700 of its workers tested positive for COVID-19. Beaumont, in contrast, did not disclose how many of its 1,500 workers out with symptoms actually tested positive.

Stories from the front

Bridge Magazine and the Detroit Free Press are teaming up to report on Michigan hospitals during the coronavirus pandemic. We will be sharing accounts of the challenges doctors, nurses and other hospital personnel face as they work to treat patients and save lives.

The combined numbers at Beaumont and Henry Ford are the latest indication of how fiercely the coronavirus has attacked metro Detroit. And they underscore the growing anxiety of hospital workers, most notably nurses, who are in close contact with COVID-19 patients, often without adequate protective gear because of limited supplies.

Geary said it’s impossible to know how many of the Beaumont employees were exposed through work, by other family members or in the community.

Some employees, he said, are nearing the end of their seven days at home, have no symptoms, and are nearly ready to return to work.

The Southfield-based system, with eight hospitals, employs 38,000. The sick workers include those who perform patient care, as well as those who work in administration and support positions, Geary said.

The employees are asked to stay home, but not everyone is tested, Geary said.

Because there is no vaccine or treatment for COVID-19 and testing remains limited, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has encouraged those without severe symptoms to recuperate at home. Still, the CDC has made “symptomatic healthcare workers” a priority for testing.

“Employees are only tested if they present themselves at a Beaumont (emergency center) or curbside screening and meet the guidelines to be tested,” Aaron Gillingham, senior vice president and chief human resources officer at Beaumont Health, told Bridge Monday.

Beaumont employees must stay home for at least seven days, be fever-free for three days, and have no symptoms before returning to work, Geary said, adding that the seven-day period does not count against workers’ “paid time off.”

Gillingham said the 1,500 figure — which includes workers who are sick and presumed to have COVID-19 — is a more accurate portrayal of the impact of the virus’ effect.

Beaumont Health told the Detroit Free Press a week ago that at the time it had "only a few dozen of our employees have tested positive for COVID-19.”

On Monday, the system chose to report the larger number of sick workers, Gillingham said.

The impact on patient care was not immediately clear. Geary said only that Beaumont remains concerned about keeping staff healthy, as all hospitals are concerned during the COVID-19 crisis.

“There has been a lot of focus on beds and equipment,” he said. “We need to focus on staff, too.”

This continuously updated post includes details of Michigan's confirmed COVID-19 cases, maps of locations, state curve data, what the state is doing to contain the spread, and expert suggestions on how you can stay safe.

Bottle returns can resume June 15. Drive-ins, immediately. Ditto for housekeeping services. But you have to wait until next week for restaurants and bars. And still no word on when tattoo shops, hairdressers and trampoline parks can reopen.

If you learned something from the story you're reading please consider supporting our work. Your donation allows us to keep our Michigan-focused reporting and analysis free and accessible to all. All donations are voluntary, but for as little as $1 you can become a member of Bridge Club and support freedom of the press in Michigan during a crucial election year.

Add new comment

Dear Reader: We value your thoughts and criticism on the articles, but insist on civility. Criticizing comments or ideas is welcome, but Bridge won’t tolerate comments that are false or defamatory or that demean, personally attack, spread hate or harmful stereotypes. Violating these standards could result in a ban.

Comments

Why are so many hospital workers are being infected with the coronavirus? Not enough safe equipment? Do other hospitals feel this effect at this rate less/more than the Detroit hospitals? Are these statistics being shared so there is more safety for all the hospital workers across the nation. This certainly a good reason to have a one payer system so all hospitals are connected not like the thousands of different hospitals that not connected at all.

How come nobody seems to give a rip about the grocery store workers that catch the virus and worse, die? A Northville Kroger employee is dead and nobody mentions a thing. It's a shame that these folks are forgotten. I guess being sure people are able to eat isn't worthy enough.

I thought people in Michigan loved Trump and Guns etc and all wanted to open up and were angry at the Governor for not letting them commit suicide?? If so what are you complaining about? This is the outcome you wanted. or your state has been portrayed as such in the news all week and all decade, am I mistaken? That's hwtai we always hear about Michigan. seems like a rather unfriendly place to me. Trumpies and angry unemployed people that hate democracy and democrats. The news makes it seem so anyways, but these Nurses should be protected, even if this is america.